Switchgear cabinet or switchgear cabinet assembly comprising a monitoring device that is arranged therein

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet assembly comprising at least one monitoring device (UST) arranged therein for monitoring switchgear cabinet functions including temperature regulation. The aim of the invention is to provide extended control options for the safety of the switchgear cabinet, whilst maintaining its ease of use. To achieve this, the monitoring device (UST) is connected by means of a link (L 1 ) to a monitoring module (M 1 ) of a computational unit (C 1 ), which is responsible for external functions and is housed in the switchgear cabinet or assembly, and is configured for evaluating signals received from the monitoring module.

[0001] The invention relates to a switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement with at least one monitoring device for switchgear cabinet functions, including temperature regulation, arranged therein.

[0002] Such a switchgear cabinet with a monitoring device which also assumes control functions is disclosed in WO 97/34345. In this known switchgear cabinet, various sensors, for example temperature sensors, vibration sensors, smoke detectors, humidity sensors, voltage sensors, door limit stop switches, and the like, as well as actuators and data transmission connections with external operating devices, are connected via input and output interfaces to a central control device with a processor or microcontroller provided therein. Various components, such as a cooling device, exhaust fan or heater with appropriate control and regulating components can be provided for temperature regulation.

[0003] The object of the invention is based on making available a switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset, which offers a user increased monitoring or control options, along with simple operation, wherein the outlay is kept as low as possible.

[0004] This object is attained by means of the characteristics of claim 1. In accordance therewith it is provided that the monitoring device is connected via a connection to a monitoring module of a computer unit housed in the switchgear cabinet or the switchgear cabinet arrangement, which is responsible for external functions and is designed for the evaluation of signals received from the monitoring module. By means of these measures, when the switchgear cabinet is used for the installation of computer units, for example servers or the like, the user has the additional option of monitoring by means of the monitoring device assigned to the switchgear cabinet functions, by means of which the switchgear cabinet can be adapted to various conditions of employment, also the computer units contained therein in regard to the conditions of their physical surroundings and, if necessary, to affect these by suitable control means.

[0005] An advantageous embodiment consists in that the monitoring module is designed at least for monitoring the proper functioning of a microcontroller, an electrical power supply and/or a cooling unit of the computer unit, and for issuing signals in connection therewith, and that the monitoring device is designed for processing of the signals received in this connection and for passing them on to a network interface for interrogating the received signals via a network. For example, it is possible to monitor the unauthorized opening of the computer housing by means of the monitoring module of the computer unit, and appropriate data can be passed on to the monitoring device for evaluation. The monitoring device offers a control device, which is or can be integrated into the switchgear cabinet or the switchgear cabinet arrangement, by means of which all monitoring tasks regarding the switchgear cabinet are handled centrally and uniformly. For example, additional displays and associated control devices for monitoring the computer units are not necessary.

[0006] If it is provided that the monitoring device is connected by means of the network with a remote control station, by means of which the switchgear cabinet functions and the functions of the computer unit monitored by means of the monitoring module can be controlled and suitable responses can be performed by means of actuators, which can be accessed via the monitoring device, it is possible, for example in case of a remote placement in other rooms or buildings, or on an exterior wall, to perform monitoring and, if needed the taking of actions for the dependable operation of the computer units from the remote central control station, in an easy to watch manner, wherein different data paths, for example selectable connections or suitable networks, such as local networks, ether net or internet, can be employed.

[0007] The monitoring device contributes to the increase of the operational dependability of the computer units in that, in case of detecting a malfunction of the electrical power supply for the computer unit, or of its cooling unit, by the monitoring device, an auxiliary electrical power supply provided in the switchgear cabinet and assigned or assignable to the computer unit is switched on, or an auxiliary cooling unit is switched on, or the computer unit is entirely or partially switched off.

[0008] The measures wherein, for the display and configuration of the monitoring device, the latter is connected by means of a connection with a server switching device housed in the switchgear cabinet arrangement, and via the switching device with the display control device of the latter, also add to the uniformity, user-friendly operability and the simplest design possible.

[0009] By means of a simple structure, the monitoring options and the control options connected therewith are further expanded with a simple system design in that the monitoring module is brought into a data exchange connection with at least one further monitoring module of a further computing unit via a further connection, and also passes on data received from the latter to the monitoring device. By means of this it is possible by a simple arrangement to monitor the physical operating conditions of several computer units with one monitoring device.

[0010] The simple design is further enhanced in that the connection between the monitoring module and the monitoring device and/or the further connection between the monitoring module and the further monitoring module is/are designed as bus connector(s). A linkage of the different components for monitoring and possibly controlling the air conditioning, the microprocessor system and/or the electrical power supply of the computer unit (EN) can be performed by means of common bus systems, such as I²C, CAN, LON, IPMI, RS232 buses or the internet.

[0011] The data from the computer unit (EN) important for monitoring can also be picked up by means of the monitoring device when the operating systems of the server do not react or are even shut down.

[0012] The invention will be explained in greater detail in what follows by means of an exemplary embodiment and by making reference to the drawings.

[0013] Here, server cabinets or similar electronic cabinets, for example, are also considered to be switchgear cabinets.

[0014] In a block diagram, the drawing shows a switchgear cabinet monitoring device ÜST, provided in a switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement, which is connected via a connection L1, preferably a bus connection, with a monitoring module M1 of a computer unit C1. The monitoring module M1 is a monitoring module which as a rule is provided anyway in such a unit, for example a CPU or compact PCI, network element, server, which offers several software interfaces with the hardware of the computer unit C1, and which furthermore also has a connector used for connecting the monitoring device ÜST via the connection L1. Various physical system parameters, such as temperature, supply voltages V, cooling unit K1, in particular in the form of exhaust fans, network elements and detector signals regarding the unauthorized opening of the computer housing, as well as data stored in this connection, can be monitored by means of the monitoring module M1. Preferably the monitoring module M1 is operated with its own electrical power supply and is therefore independent of the supply of the computer unit C1 system. In addition, it can have a number of A/D interfaces, with the aid of which it monitors the entire electrical power supply of the computer unit C1. Data can be exchanged with a further monitoring module M2 of a further computer unit C2 via a further connection L2, in particular a bus connection. Correspondingly, still further monitoring modules can be connected via the further monitoring module M2.

[0015] The switchgear cabinet ÜST, which preferably performs all monitoring and control functions relating to the switchgear cabinet per se, as explained in detail in the publication WO 97/34345 mentioned at the outset, by means of which appropriate parameters for various employment conditions can be preset, is given additional functions exceeding the mere monitoring of the switchgear cabinet because of the connection of the monitoring module M1 and possibly further than that, of the further monitoring module M2. It is made possible to also include the monitoring of the physical status of the computer units C1, C2 installed in the switchgear cabinet, or the switchgear cabinet arrangement, and to exert an influence on them, when required. By integrating the monitoring of the computer units C1, C2 into the monitoring device ÜST, the user is offered a uniform total monitoring by means of a simple, clear operation.

[0016] The data processed by means of the monitoring device ÜST can be uniformly transmitted via a network connection N to a remote control station and displayed there, so that an operator is provided with simple control possibilities regarding the switchgear cabinet functions, as well as the physical state of the computer units C1, C2 and can, if necessary, exert an appropriate influence on the control functions of the monitoring device ÜST. For example, if a cooling unit K1, or an exhaust fan of the computer unit C1 fails, a further cooling unit K2 in the form of an exhaust fan or the like, which is provided anyway in the switchgear cabinet, or can be provided there, can be switched on as a replacement for cooling the computer unit C1. In case of failure of the power supply V, the affected computer unit C1 can be connected to an auxiliary power supply provided in the switchgear cabinet. The switch-off of the computing unit C1 by means of the monitoring device ÜST is also possible.

[0017] The monitoring device ÜST is connected via a connector L3 with a server switching device SU, and via the latter with a display control device D, in particular a so-called OSC (on-screen display). Because of the display control device D, which is customarily assigned to the server switching device SU, it is no longer necessary to equip the monitoring device ÜST itself with an elaborate display unit and an appropriate control device. The monitoring device IST can be configured simply and clearly and by the use of appropriate hardware and software of the server switching device SU, or of the display control device, so that it is capable to set, for example, predetermined values for actuating, as well as sensor signals and parameters for triggering actuators, as well as to display data for their control.

[0018] By means of the described measures in connection with the monitoring device ÜST, it is made possible to improve the ability of switchgear cabinets to function. 

1. A switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement with at least one monitoring device (ÜST) for switchgear cabinet functions, including temperature regulation, arranged therein, characterized in that the monitoring device (ÜST) is connected via a connection (L1) to a monitoring module (M1) of a computer unit (C1) housed in the switchgear cabinet or the switchgear cabinet arrangement, which is responsible for external functions and is designed for the evaluation of signals received from the monitoring module.
 2. The switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring module (M1) is designed at least for monitoring the proper functioning of a processor (μC) of the computer unit (C1), an electrical power supply (V) of the computer unit (C1) and/or a cooling unit (K1) of the computer unit (C1), and for issuing signals in connection therewith, and the monitoring device (ÜST) is designed for processing of the signals received in this connection and for passing them on to a network interface for interrogating the received signals via a network.
 3. The switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the monitoring device (ÜST) is connected by means of the network (N) with a remote control station, by means of which the switchgear cabinet functions and the functions of the computer unit (C1) monitored by means of the monitoring module (M1) can be controlled and suitable responses can be performed by means of actuators, which can be accessed via the monitoring device.
 4. The switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that when detecting a malfunction of the electrical power supply (V) for the computer unit (C1), or of its cooling unit (K1), by the monitoring device, an auxiliary electrical power supply provided in the switchgear cabinet and assigned or assignable to the computer unit (C1) is switched on, or an auxiliary cooling unit (K2) is switched on, or the computer unit (C1) is entirely or partially switched off.
 5. A switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement, characterized in that for the display and configuration of the monitoring device (ÜST), the latter is connected by means of a connection (L3) with a server switching device (SU) housed in the switchgear cabinet arrangement, and via the switching device with the display control device (D) of the latter.
 6. The switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring module (M1) is brought into a data exchange connection with at least one further monitoring module (M2) of a further computer unit (C2) via a further connection (L2) and also passes on data received from the latter to the monitoring device (ÜST).
 7. The switchgear cabinet or a switchgear cabinet arrangement in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection (L1) between the monitoring module (M1) and the monitoring device (ÜST) and/or the further connection (L2) between the monitoring module (M1) and the further monitoring module (M2) is/are designed as bus connector(s). 